Spread Christmas cheer with themed gift baskets

Sunday

Dec 4, 2011 at 12:44 AM

My grandfather always had a great sense of humor. He always joked about winning the lottery and assured all of us that if he won, all of his grandchildren would get a new car. One year he actually did buy us all a new car — he bought all seven of us a model car in various makes and models. (Mine was a Corvette) I will never forget his laughter on Christmas morning when we all opened up our “new cars.” I still have that car 22 years later. My grandparents got us gifts every year, and that is the one that I remember and cherish. It’s proof that the thought behind the gift is what makes a difference.

One of my other all-time favorite gifts is from my sister. I had just moved here and she schemed with my daughter to give me the perfect gift. She made a scrapbook set to the theme of “My Sister My Friend” by Reba McIntyre. As I was opening the gift, she had my daughter play the song. As I turned the pages, I relived the memories of my life with her.

My point is this: It’s the memories behind the gift, not those hefty price tags, that make a memorable Christmas for your family. Picking out the perfect holiday gift can be difficult — especially when the person you are shopping for seems to have everything. One of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is to put together themed gifts. When you put together gifts with a story, you have to stop and think of the person, what they may like and pull together a gift from the heart. These gifts will be the ones that people will look back and remember.

Follow these steps to come up with your own “themed” gifts:

• Determine your budget: In order to put together these gifts you are going to have to determine how much you can spend. The idea is to assemble the nicest gifts possible without breaking the bank.

• Make a list: Think of everyone that you would like to give some thing: friends, family, teachers, your newspaper carrier, hair dresser, mail carrier, etc.

• Break down your list: List each recipient on a separate piece of paper. Under the persons name list the answers to the following:

1) What do they like to do? Examples: baseball, scrapbooking, reading, etc.

2) List their favorite things: candy, restaurants, snacks, etc

3) What is your favorite memory of them? What do you appreciate about them?

These questions should trigger some type of theme that you can use for your gift. If you do not know the person well like your child’s teacher, etc. you can fill a basket with assorted goodies or consider a gift certificate with a special note.

Inside the towel: Book, candle, box of Crystal Light, wine glass, Mini-Snickers bars, bath pillow, bubble bath. My family has a huge sense of humor, so I will include several funny pictures tucked into the book that she won’t discover until later.

• Include a special note of our baking memories, and our shared cups of tea. I could also include a picture of me covered in flour because that’s how our baking escapades usually ended up.

Hopefully you were able to answer some of those questions for each person on your list or maybe you were able to make up your own. If no, be sure to start paying attention to what your favorite people are reading, watching, eating or drinking for next year.

I’m going to give you examples of several other gift packages you can put together. The packages you choose and the items you want to put in them will depend on the personality of those on your list.

SPORTS BASKETS

Baseball/football player: Pick up a baseball cap with favorite team emblems and fill with: magazine subscription to ESPN or ESPN Kids (Look for discounted subscriptions online); sports gear like balls, gloves or hats, and candy.

Golfer: Tees, balls and a certificate for 18 holes of golf at a favorite course (Be sure to check dailydeals.savannahnow.com for discounted deals).

Basketball player: Over the door basketball hamper filled with goodies.

Cheerleader: subscription to American Cheerleader, cheer ornaments or charms, scrapbook of cheer events.

For the couponer: Use a regular basket or small tote on wheels and add a newspaper subscription, scissors, binder, baseball card pages, paper (to print coupons), subscription to All You magazine, gift certificate to a Savvy Shopper couponing class. (Contact me at Savvyshopper@savannahnow.com for newspaper subscriptions/gift certificates for class.) Gift card for a grocery store with a note to “double their money” using coupons.

For the gambler: Use a regular gift bag and add lottery tickets, fortune cookies, chocolate coin candy, deck of cards.

For small children: Fill a basket with Christmas story books, ornaments, singing/dancing holiday stuffed toys and Christmas movies. Top it off with some Christmas crafts and provide the materials for the family to make it together. If you plan for this to be an annual thing, buy a really nice wicker basket the first year and decorate it. Then each year the children can place all of the books, games or movies from previous years and build a collection that comes out at the holidays. Future gifts can be wrapped in soft Christmas blankets and may include new pajamas. Take a picture of the children opening the gift each year and start a scrapbook or put them in a frame. It’s fun to look back at how much they have changed. Be sure to place a small note with the year inside the book cover or place a label on the ornament with the year for reference later.

For your parents/siblings: Create a memory book for your family. Sit down with your siblings or children and write down your favorite memories. Be prepared for laughter and tears. Document these memories in a book and include pictures if you can. My mother made a beautiful book for all of her siblings with pictures from their childhood forward. She was able to make one book and have it photocopied.

Big kids basket: This is one of my favorites. Last year, I was so sad that my kids had passed the “toy” stage. But then I decided they were just “Big Kids” and bought them all of their old favorites (and mine) and used them as stocking stuffers. Playdough, slime, coloring book and crayons, Slinkies and sponge figures. My kids loved it. The only downfall was I bought my daughter a huge box of crayons and a Smurf coloring book. Who said Smurfs have to be blue? This is one gift that she will always remember.

Newlyweds basket: Give a basket with holiday-theme towels, Christmas decorations, recipe books and other items to help them get a household started.

Time: This is the best gift of all. Offer to babysit, help wrap presents, prepare a meal or other chores.

Groceries: Everyone needs to eat, so a gift certificate to a favorite grocery store would be the perfect gift.

SHOP SAVVY

1) Don’t forget the drugstores. The drugstores will have tons of candy deals from now until the holidays. When you combine coupons with the sales you will be able to score a great deal.

2) Break up the large bags of candy into smaller bags. You can rewrap the candy in clear wrap and tie on a nice bow or sprinkle the candy loosely in the container.

4) If you are giving photo gifts shop around for the best deals. Walgreens has offered free collages several times this year. Watch the Savannah Savvy Shopper Facebook page. I’ll post any photo deals I find.

5) Don’t forget the coupons that are directly on the retailer’s website. Target has its own coupons, and they price match, too.

6) Start shopping for next year. Don’t wait until right before Christmas, start shopping now for next year. Especially on those after Christmas sales. The day after Christmas things usually go to 50 percent off. Buy those items for your rest and relaxation baskets after Christmas and have them ready for next year. I was able to score some of my baskets after Easter at 75 percent off. The baskets are plain white and brown and can be used any time.

7) Don’t forget the dollar stores. They may not take coupons but they often have some really nice stocking stuffers and may even have the gift basket you are looking for.

8) If you are subscribing to a magazine, see if you can do it through www.ebates.com. The site often has great discounts on the magazine and will offer cash back.

9) Visit local stores. Not only will you be supporting your neighbors, you will find unique items.

10) Always ask the cashier if he or she has a coupon. I’ve saved tons this way. The cashiers will sometimes have extra coupons behind the register that they can give you.

11) Check your receipts. Make sure the items ring up correctly, and check for additional coupons that may print at the bottom or back of your receipt.

12) Always sign up for the store’s loyalty card. Those little savings add up to big savings over time. Be sure to register your email address and look for coupons to be emailed to you all year long.

Don’t forget to check out the holiday gift guide at giftguide.savannahnow.com and read my entire article on Shopping Savvy at the holidays here: giftguide.savannahnow.com/share/blog-post/giftguide/2011-11-28/shop-savvy-holidays-dozen-tips-stress-free-savings

Send your tips or questions to Savvy Shopper Michelle Rubrecht at Savvyshopper@savannahnow.com or post them to Savannah Savvy Shopper on Facebook.

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